# CVE-2022-49761: btrfs: always report error in run_one_delayed_ref()

> A use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's btrfs filesystem can cause a denial of service when delayed reference errors occur.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 27 Mar 2025
- **Updated:** 11 May 2026
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2022-49761, GHSA-2x8g-m7hp-f3x8, UBUNTU-CVE-2022-49761

## What is CVE-2022-49761?

CVE-2022-49761 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 27 Mar 2025. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

btrfs: always report error in run_one_delayed_ref()

Currently we have a btrfs_debug() for run_one_delayed_ref() failure, but
if end users hit such problem, there will be no chance that
btrfs_debug() is enabled.  This can lead to very little useful info for
debugging.

This patch will:

- Add extra info for error reporting
  Including:
  * logical bytenr
  * num_bytes
  * type
  * action
  * ref_mod

- Replace the btrfs_debug() with btrfs_err()

- Move the error reporting into run_one_delayed_ref()
  This is to avoid use-after-free, the @node can be freed in the caller.

This error should only be triggered at most once.

As if run_one_delayed_ref() failed, we trigger the error message, then
causing the call chain to error out:

btrfs_run_delayed_refs()
`- btrfs_run_delayed_refs()
   `- btrfs_run_delayed_refs_for_head()
      `- run_one_delayed_ref()

And we will abort the current transaction in btrfs_run_delayed_refs().
If we have to run delayed refs for the abort transaction,
run_one_delayed_ref() will just cleanup the refs and do nothing, thus no
new error messages would be output.

Weakness: CWE-416 (Use After Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2022-49761?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Linux kernel.

## How do I fix CVE-2022-49761?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2022-49761 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2022-49761 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel

- [CVE-2026-53266](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53266/): Linux Kernel Out-of-Bounds Write (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-6282](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-6282/): Linux Kernel Improper Input Validation (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2022-0185](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-0185/): Linux Kernel Heap-Based Buffer Overflow (high 8.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-2094](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-2094/): Linux Kernel Privilege Escalation (high 8.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-53362](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53362/): Linux Kernel Unspecified (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2022-49761 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2022-49761 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 27 Mar 2025. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2022-49761 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Linux kernel. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-49761/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-49761/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2022-49761
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-49761
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2022-49761

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-49761/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.